What about the Africans who sold slaves? Warmington blasts Jamaica’s push for slavery reparations from UK

Government lawmaker in the House of Representatives Everald Warmington on Tuesday night criticised the Government’s push to petition the United Kingdom on reparations for slavery, arguing that Black people in Africa who sold slaves have more to answer for than the white people who bought slaves.

Warmington called the recent visit by Culture Minister Olivia Grange and a team to the UK to deliver a petition to King Charles III, asking him to refer certain questions to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, embarrassing.

“I'm saying that I'm embarrassed at the spectacle of the photo ops in London. Okay? We went there, and remind me of a nursery rhyme: ‘Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been? I've been to London to see the King. Pussycat, pussycat, what did you do there? I left a petition on the empty chair’. That is what it reminds me of,” he said.

“My root is here in Jamaica and not in Africa.”

His remarks came amid an update in Parliament on Tuesday by Grange on Jamaica’s reparations petition, informing that King Charles has referred the matter to the Privy Council for consideration.

The long-serving MP was not pleased by the information, arguing that the real issue is the Black Africans who sold slaves to white people and not the push for reparations.

But before he could continue his remarks, his mic was cut by Deputy Speaker of the House Heroy Clarke, who told him that he should ask questions and not make commentary.

“Member, you are going to stick to questions only. No nursery rhymes here,” Clarke told Warmington before turning off his mic.

This triggered a strong rebuke from Warmington, who insisted that he would not be silenced.

Warmington insisted on being allowed to speak but was again told by Clarke to ask questions.

This again angered the MP, who called the Deputy Speaker out of order and told him to turn back on his mic.

“You turn my mic off? Don’t go down there,” said Warmington as he pointed to Clarke, who told him to ask questions.

Warmington insisted that his mic be turned back on and refused to sit or move on.

After more rancour and finger-pointing by Warmington, the mic was turned back on and Warmington went on to bash the push for reparations and strongly argued that the conversation should instead focus on Black Africans who sold slaves.

“We keep on speaking of the buyers of the slaves, but nobody speaks of the sellers of the slave. That's what I want to answer.

“The white man didn't go to Africa and pick up slaves and take them across here. They were caught by black people who sold them to the white man to come here.

“The question I ask: we keep on speaking about the white man who bought the slaves and refuse to ask, when are we going to ask about the black man in Africa who sold the slave to the white man. They didn't go there and catch slaves.”

Warmington had strong words for the Deputy Speaker before taking his seat.

“I have no intention, Acting Deputy Speaker, I have no intention of taking disrespect from nobody in this House. Okay!

"....and never do that to me again, never do it again!” he said emphatically.

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